Page 30 of Vow to Claim You

I check in with Tassilo. His men are already on the perimeter. Hunting. The shooter will be found—it’s not a question of if—and when he is, death will be the kindest thing I offer him.

We reach the safehouse. The one only my inner circle knows exists. No insignia. No windows. Our meeting point of sorts. The place where The Gods’ northern branch conducts business too dirty to attach a name to.

If Scandinavia has a hellmouth, this is it.

Kirill doesn’t waste time. Scalpel. Forceps. He’s in his element.

“You’re lucky,” he mutters, the bullet already clinking against the metal tray. “A centimeter deeper and you might never have lifted that arm again.”

“I’m aware.” I give him nothing but an impassive look. “Hurry up.”

He’s mid-stitch when my phone buzzes. A secure line. One of my perimeter men.

“Speak.”

“We have an intruder,” he reports. “Same man who infiltrated the wedding, sir. He’s hiding near the east garden. Looks like he’s waiting for someone.”

Waiting for someone.

Translation: waiting for her.

My jaw tightens, but nothing cracks through the surface. Nothing visible.

“Neutralize?” he asks.

“No.” I keep my tone neutral, my mind already several steps ahead. “Stand down. Let him believe he slipped past you. He’ll stay in place if he thinks he’s winning. Wait for my orders. I’ll be there soon.”

I hang up.

Kirill pauses, fixing me with a glare. “Aric, you should rest. The blood loss⁠—”

“There’s no time.”

Ayanna is out there. And so is a man who thinks he’s entitled to her.

I move to stand, and Eero shoots me the look. The look. The one that says I’ve lost my mind.

“Don’t even start,” I warn.

He lifts his hands. “Didn’t say a word.”

Good. Words would’ve been wasted breath.

Moments later, we speed back toward the mansion, snow blurring past the windows. I pull up the surveillance feed. The cameras zero in on the garden.

Ayanna steps into the frame.

Then him.

Her delusional ex. The unwelcome reminder that my wife had a life before me—one she never chose to leave.

I watch them speak. Her fear. His delusion. The way he looks at her like she’s still his to claim.

“I’ve seen enough.” I drop the tablet and call the perimeter team. “Surround the area. Wait for my signal.”

The cold bites through the layers, tugging at the stitches beneath as I step into the garden.

Ayanna’s eyes snap to me first, widening with something that looks dangerously close to panic. Her ex is still unaware I’m standing right behind him.